The following Article was published in the London-based New Statesman on February 4th, 2021

How should US anti-Semitism be defined in the Biden era?

The US’s Jewish community is debating whether the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition should be enforced as government policy.

BY EMILY TAMKIN

“Do we need this definition?” Hadar Susskind, the president and CEO of Americans for Peace Now, put that question to me in response to a growing debate in the US over how the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) defines anti-Semitism.

APN's daily news review from Israel - Thursday February 4, 2020

Quote of the day:

“We need a tourniquet and he offers us a band-aid with ‘Likud’ written on it.”
--Joint List Chairman, MK Ayman Odeh, called the plan that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu presented yesterday to combat violence in the Arab sector an “election ploy on the backs of Arab murder victims."* 

Breaking News:
Lokman Slim, a prominent Hezbollah critic, was found shot dead in his car in southern Lebanon Thursday morning after going missing Wednesday. His telephone was found on the ground, but his ID and pistol were missing. (Also Yedioth Hebrew) It was the first such alleged killing of a leading anti-Hezbollah activist in years. On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it downed an Israeli drone that entered Lebanon using an anti-aircraft missile, but the IDF said the drone wasn’t downed, despite photos and locals saying they heard an explosion. Hours later, on Wednesday night, Israel struck Hezbollah targets in southern Syria near the Golan Heights border, Syrian state TV said. (VIDEO) Syria said it responded to 'an Israeli aggression.’ 

APN's daily news review from Israel - Wednesday February 3, 2020
 

Quotes of the day*:

“There was a rain of bullets. I thought that was it. All my dreams, everything I have done - it’s all over.”
—Dr. Mohammed Aramush, who was injured by gunfire in the shootout between police and criminals on his street in the Arab-Israeli town of Tamra. Aramush was in his yard when he was hit. His friend, nursing student Ahmed Hijazi, was killed.

“While it’s necessary for the police to enter Arab communities and actively deal with crime, they cannot turn these communities into the Wild West.”
—Haaretz Editorial after police killed Ahmed Hijazi.

“Instead of firing targeted fire, the police fired in all directions. There is no reason to shoot in this way. I do not hear of such incidents in Tel Aviv or Netanya. There are no police officers with M-16 (assault rifles) in Bnei Brak or any other (Jewish cities)."
—Ja’afar Farah, Director of the Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab Palestinian Citizens of Israel.

“Our public indeed demands a fight against criminals and the eradication of crime, but not to kill the best of our sons.”
—Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi. 

Washington, DC -- Americans for Peace Now (APN) is disappointed at the Biden administration's support of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, as expressed yesterday by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kara McDonald.

APN's daily news review from Israel - Monday February 2, 2021

Quote of the day:

“(The outlawed anti-Arab terrorist) Kach party, in its various spiritual incarnations - Kahane Hai (Kahane Lives), Jewish National Front (Hazit Yehudit Leumit), Jewish Power (Otzmah Yehudit), and its derivatives, the Lehava organization, and others - has taken root in the public and in the political experience in Israel. Its graduates, supporters, representatives, activists and the like are once again legitimate interviewees in the mainstream media, and this is evident in the right-wing courtship of them, with the active encouragement - through his recommendation and pressure - of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.”
—Former Israeli peace negotiator, Attorney Gilad Sher, writes about how Israel’s most radical right-wing have become acceptable in Israel.*

Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

APN's daily news review from Israel - Monday February 1, 2021

You Must Be Kidding: 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly promised to advance the creation of a new Jewish settlement with 9,000 homes if three small far-right-wing parties merge.*

APN's daily news review from Israel - Sunday January 31, 2021

 

Quote of the day:

"The question that should keep IDF commanders from sleeping is whether, from an ethical, legal and operational point of view, is whether it is appropriate for IDF soldiers in compulsory service to engage in the eviction of Palestinians, and in missions that it is doubtful they are security or policy related."
--Former chief military censor, Brig. Gen. (res.) Rachel Dolevi, currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Commanders for Israel Security Movement, describes the concern that evicting Palestinians from their homes and land harms the ethical resilience of the IDF.*

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
2. Hearings & Markups
3. On the Record

Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.